po polsku
illustration: DALL-EThat`s not fringe talk. It`s mainstream. Poland ranks 11th globally for greenwashing mentions in major online news sources.
Critics allege that as many as 42% of ESG-related claims are misleading. They accuse firms of selective transparency - flaunting eco-friendly highlights while burying environmental shortcomings. It`s a trust issue. When nearly 90% of surveyed business representatives admit they lack proper ESG knowledge, opponents weaponize this to discredit entire reporting efforts.
As Sebastian Bykowski, IMM’s Vice President warns, disinformation undermines all companies - even those genuinely trying to improve. The chaos is fueled by social media algorithms and generative AI, which amplify controversy and allow fake content to spread at warp speed.
From compliance to confusion - ESG’s growing pains
Despite ESG being enshrined in EU’s Omnibus Directive - binding on firms with over 1,000 employees and €50M+ in revenue or €25M in assets - 45% of companies still don’t know if it applies to them. Meanwhile, media attention is exploding: from 14,600 ESG-related mentions in Q1 2024 to 23,100 in Q1 2025. That’s a 58% leap.
There were 70 ESG-themed events in the last quarter alone, 90% of them free. Yet this informational boom has not translated into widespread understanding. Instead, it created a perfect storm for disinformation to thrive.
The ESG and the ideological skirmish
ESG has become a political football. Both the far left and right now weaponize it for ideological gain. Add to that a media environment dominated by clickbait and vague headlines, and what you get is confusion instead of clarity - skepticism instead of progress.
According to the 19th edition of the "Global Risks Perception Survey", fake news is now considered among the leading threats to global stability. For ESG-driven firms, the consequences are real: lost trust, legal exposure, reputational crises, talent drain, falling brand value - and potentially, existential danger.
IMM’s report "Disinformation about ESG in the media. Facts and myths" was unveiled at the Grand ESG conference by Fundacja Grand Press on May 9, 2025. Download the full report here.
How the media talk (or stay silent) about climate
The report "Climate Change and News Audiences 2024", published earlier this year by Reuters Institute, shows that audience engagement with climate topics has remained almost unchanged for several years.
Climate misinformation remains a significant issue. Interestingly, misinformation sources vary widely, with politicians and celebrities among the most frequently indicated.
| Source of Misinformation | Percentage of Respondents |
|---|---|
| Politicians and political parties | 12% |
| Governments | 11% |
| Celebrities | 10% |
| Climate activists | 10% |
| Scientists | 8% |
| International institutions | 8% |
| Energy companies | 8% |
| Friends and family | 7% |
| Charitable organizations | 6% |
| Religious leaders | 6% |
The problem is not only the emergence of false content but also its dissemination by public figures and influential groups. The high number of mentions of politicians and celebrities as misinformation sources shows that major media players are not always responsible for misleading the public.
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New articles in section Media industry
Information laundering. Russian propaganda returns as news from China
KFi
Russian intelligence agencies use complex tactics to mask the primary source of their harmful narratives. Patrycja Krzyśpiak from NASK details this dangerous process of information laundering in a recent report.
Health disinformation on the internet. Diagnosis from an algorithm
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Health disinformation can cause a cancer patient to see a doctor when it is too late for effective treatment. It can also undermine trust in doctors and public institutions. As a result, people may refuse to cooperate even during a real external threat, experts warn.
Feminatives are not a given. How Polish women talk about their professions
SWPS
Polish women still rarely use female job titles. This comes from the latest report by the Center for Research on Social Relations at SWPS University. Women's professional activity proved to be a significant factor in using feminatives.
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Paid journalistic content. Market trends and forecasts by Reuters Institute
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Only 18 percent of internet users pay for online news access, and the rate has not increased for the third year in a row. Norway sets records with 42%, while Greece does not exceed 7%. Globally, nearly one in three subscribers cancels after a year.
Freelancers 2025 in media and advertising. Useme report
Krzysztof Fiedorek
The modern media and communication market presents entirely new challenges for independent creators. Traditional services are giving way to more complex forms of messaging. The most popular industries in which Polish freelancers operate focus on companies' online presence and visual content.
Media in Poland 2022. How Poles Watch, Listen, Read, and Surf the Web
Krzysztof Fiedorek
Nearly two million Poles have access to a TV but do not watch television. For radio, the analogous group amounts to 8% of radio owners. Two-thirds of Poles reach for printed press, even occasionally, while the number of mobile internet users exceeds desktop users by nearly three million.
Artificial Intelligence in the Media. Reuters Digital News Report 2024
Krzysztof Fiedorek
AI has gained prominence in recent years, and its application in producing, distributing, and presenting news content continues to grow. However, this development is met with mixed feelings by audiences, which has significant consequences for media trust and its future.
